We find ourselves in the month of April, as we prepare to celebrate Easter-a moveable religious holiday rich in festive rituals and ceremonial activities that place this event at the very heart of Christian spiritual life. The spirit of the Resurrection is beautifully complemented by ten Easter-themed postcards from the heritage of the National Museum of History of Moldova, printed a century ago. These pieces were added to the museum's postcard collection over a decade ago following a successful acquisition; as the fund for Easter-themed illustrations is modest, we are in a constant search for new additions.
These postcards are "extraordinary" in terms of their postal, typographical, and chromatic effects-the primary reason for revisiting this genre of greetings. Unlike "classic" postcards, these are smaller in size (6.5 cm x 11 cm), made of cardboard (with the exception of one piece made of photographic paper in black and white), and feature "vivid" colors. Printed in Romania and Germany, they bear the marks of having been sent and circulated through the post.
The name of the holiday originates from the verb persach, meaning "to pass," a term adopted by the Jews from the Egyptians. It entered the Romanian language through the Byzantine-Latin form Paschae, signifying the "passage through death to life, the victory of life, and liberation from the bondage of sin." Easter is a holiday of tolerance and forgiveness, representing a bridge between the present and the past. The significance of this celebration is conveyed through its symbols, which are also featured on these postcards: Hand-painted eggs, the Easter Bunny and the Lamb, traditional sweet breads (cozonac and pască), biblical scenes related to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Easter table also features pască-a ritual food reminiscent of ancient, bloodless "reconciliation" sacrifices. Its preparation is the exclusive task of women, the givers of life, as the leavened dough is considered "alive."
The most significant component of the Easter holiday, however, is the Light. The Ceremony of the Holy Light is associated with the miracle of the light appearing on Easter Sunday at Christ's Tomb in Jerusalem. The candle, often depicted in these images, carries a powerful message; it is with the Resurrection candle that we return home after the midnight religious service. Furthermore, the Easter Bunny represents the rebirth of nature, so eagerly awaited after a harsh winter.
Unlike Christmas, when the announcement and ritual integration of the community into sacred time was the duty of caroling groups, at Easter, "one does not go from house to house." Instead, the ritual meal is organized within each family, symbolizing a direct communion with God.
Diplomatic efforts on the Bessarabian question during 1914-1916
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
For a century since the beginning of the First World War the attention of Romanian and foreign historians was focused on the issues related to the period of neutrality of Romania, the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest by the second Crown Council (14/27 August 1916), and other issues related to the major events of that war. However, it is particularly important to undertake a re-inventorying of the initial sources and to understand how the negotiations on the issue of Bessarabia were conducted from the perspective of Russian and the Central Powers diplomacies in 1914-1916. The importance of research is increased by the fact that at the time the negotiations were held this issue wasn't a reference point for the Romanian diplomacy.
The problem of Bessarabia of 1914-1916 remains on the periphery of historical research. The paradox lies in the fact that there are no documents (not found), which could reveal the position of the Romanian government at this stage of the "Great War" (1914-1916) on the territorial issue of Bessarabia, annexed by Russia in 1812, as well as any requests or claims made by the Romanian government regarding the Romanians in Bessarabia, especially consid- ering the total lack of schools teaching in Romanian.
Maria Danilov
Reference points in the historiography of the Noul Neamț Monastery. Issues and interpretations
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Maria Danilov
Ion Ţurcanu, Bessarabiana. Teritoriul dintre Prut și Nistru în câteva ipostaze istorice și istoriografice, Editura: Cartdidact, Chișinău, 2012, 344 p. ISBN 978-9975-4337-0-9
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Maria Danilov
Kаталог архивного фонда Русского Свято-Пантелеимонова монастыря на Афоне», том седьмой, часть 4. Составитель Ермолай (Чежия), Святая Гора Афон/ Издаельство «Голос Пресс», Москва, 2015 г. 445 стр. ISBN 978-5-7117-0734-9
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Maria Danilov
Press and Censorship in Bessarabia at the beginning of XXth century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Maria Danilov
Unique manuscript from the archive of Paul Gore (1860)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
We find ourselves in the month of April, as we prepare to celebrate Easter-a moveable religious holiday rich in festive rituals and ceremonial activities that place this event at the very heart of Christian spiritual life...
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.